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Eris Exchange receives US patent for swap futures product design

Eris Exchange(Eris), a U.S.-based futures exchange group that offers swap futures as a capital-efficient alternative to traditional over-the-counter (OTC) interest rate swaps, today announced that it has been awarded a patent on the principal component of its product design, the Eris Methodology, by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The patented invention enables a cash-settled futures product to replicate the convexity of an OTC swap by incorporating interest on collateral within daily variation margin payments.

Eris utilizes the invention in its flagship U.S. dollar-denominated Eris Swap Futures contracts that clear at CME. Open interest in these contracts has grown by 65% in the past 18 months. In addition, Eris has licensed the Eris Methodology for use in products on multiple global futures exchanges, including ICE Futures U.S. and ICE Futures Europe. Open interest in all products based on the Eris Methodology now exceeds 200,000 contracts, representing more than 70% of global swap futures open interest.

“Eris’ recent growth has been fueled by fixed income investors and hedgers using Eris Swap Futures as a more cost-effective and operationally-efficient way to conduct their business,” said Neal Brady, CEO of Eris Exchange. “Receiving a U.S. patent further validates the uniqueness and superior product design of the Eris Methodology, and ensures that Eris is well-positioned to reap the benefits of the value we’re providing to clients.”

“The Eris Methodology means that Eris Swap Futures may be held until the final maturity of the underlying swap, with no forced rolls or physical delivery, therefore replicating both the risk and mechanics of the equivalent OTC swap,” said Tom Rettinger, Managing Director, Portfolio Risk Management at PennyMac. Consequently, Eris Swap Futures may be used in the same manner as OTC swaps, while enjoying the protections and benefits of an exchange traded instrument.